Jurors in Apple v. Samsung trial asked to list their gadgets

The Apple v. Samsung trial opened on Monday before a court San Jose and as we reported yesterday, the first step for both sides is jury selection. However, finding an impartial jury in California could prove a bit more challenging than expected.

The potential jurors were met with a series of rather interesting questions. Judge Lucy Koh briefed the potential jurors on the basics of the dispute and told them that “it will be an interesting case” if they are selected.

However, getting selected could be tricky. Koh asked potential jurors whether they worked at Apple, Google, Samsung or Motorola and quizzed them about their gadgets. Potential jurors were asked what sort of phones and products they use and whether they plan to upgrade soon. Koh also asked wanted to know what they read about the case ahead of trial, whether they own stock in any of the companies involved in the case and whether they have a blog.

Unsurprisingly many jurors said they owned iPhones and iPads, or Samsung smartphones and TV sets. A few said they read Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs. One juror was dismissed after he told the court that he would like Apple to win, which is not surprising as he works for Apple. Google interface designer Steve Okamoto was also in the pool and needless to say he was not selected either.

The pool also included the father of a Google economist and a father of a member of Apple’s legal team. The Apple dad was dismissed after he said he had also consulted for apple and that his brother worked at Apple in the early days of the company.

“The feeling is bred into the family that we’re an Apple kind of family,” he told the court.

Eventually jury selection was completed and the court swore in seven men and three women as jurors.